The ePrescribing program will enable a licensed practitioner to generate a prescription electronically and then transmit it to a pharmacy. Through this new program, Anthem is offering physicians access to free ePrescribing software, a free mobile pocket PC and a discounted wireless telecommunication plan that will enable them to access real-time patient eligibility, formulary and medication history information from any internet-enabled PC or anywhere a cell phone signal is available.
Lisa Guertin, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire, said: Physicians will now have ample information at their fingertips to help them ensure the safety of their patients, to work more efficiently, and to save their patients money on prescriptions.
The Anthem ePrescribing program, supported by Sprint and the National ePrescribing Patient Safety Initiative, will include access to a patient’s eligibility, formularies, adverse drug event alerts and medication history including medications prescribed by physicians outside of the practice.
The New Hampshire Citizens Health Initiative is a healthcare collaborative group, comprised of representatives from the state’s hospitals, doctors and pharmacists, along with public, business and nonprofit organizations.
New Hampshire Governor John Lynch said: Electronic prescribing will help ensure patients get the best possible medication to meet their needs. That will reduce medical errors, save lives, and reduce health care costs. That is why, working through the Citizens Health Initiative, I’ve made electronic prescribing a priority. This effort will help us meet our goals of making New Hampshire the first state in the nation where all healthcare providers are able to prescribe medication electronically.